MARTIN Bakole has an enormous mountain to climb as he steps in on just three days’ notice to take on Joseph Parker.
The pair will square off for Parker’s WBO interim heavyweight title tomorrow evening in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, after IBF champion Daniel Dubois was forced to pull out due to illness.
But while preparation, for both fighters, has been far from ideal, it is worth taking a closer look at how the intriguing showdown could be won and lost.
JOSEPH PARKER – KEYS TO VICTORY
Weather the storm
Bakole, 21-1 (16 KOs), is the type of fighter who could quite happily peel himself off the couch just to knock somebody out.
In that sense, the early rounds will more than likely be fought on a knife-edge, compelling Parker, 35-3 (23 KOs), to remain sharp and avoid any fierce exchanges.
Instead of trading with his deadly opponent in the pocket, the New Zealander must stay defensively responsible before elevating his work rate down the stretch.
In doing so, he should be presented with a greater opportunity to capitalise on Bakole’s fatigue, a weakness that, even at the best of times, the mountainous slugger has been known to reveal.
Stick and move
While fans, for the most part, are expecting an enthralling shootout between the two fearsome operators, a more tactical approach from Parker could equally make for a vastly uneventful affair.
As he remains one of the most technically polished heavyweights, it would make sense for the 33-year-old to utilise his movement, not only to stay out of harm’s way but also with a view to establish his control.
Should he succeed in keeping his jab pumping and his feet dancing, a fully fit version of Parker is likely to pivot around Bakole, a more static target than Dubois, to create both offensive and defensive angles.
Volume
Despite Parker being a solid puncher himself, Bakole just so happens to be a terrifying knockout artist, hell-bent on nothing but inflicting violence and destruction.
So while Parker may have little success with a selection of single shots, his best chance of earning a degree of respect from Bakole is by overwhelming him with volume.
With any luck, a series of blistering flurries will stop the Congolese wrecking machine from marching forward, or at least force him to second-guess when to launch his potent attacks.
At the same time, though, Parker must always exit the pocket at an angle, never leaving himself within range to eat a monstrous right hand.
MARTIN BAKOLE – KEYS TO VICTORY
Conserve energy
Some may say that Bakole’s best opportunity to emerge victorious is by ending the fight early, perhaps catching his opponent with a haymaker he never saw coming.
But Parker, to his credit, has proven to possess a tremendous chin, always climbing off the canvas on the rare occasions when he has been dropped.
If Bakole was to produce a finish inside the distance, the chances of it arriving within the first few rounds are incredibly slim, and so the importance for him to maintain an economical punch output should not be underestimated.
Patience
Being the devastating puncher that he is, the windows for Bakole to land his crushing blows should be plentiful.
By taking the fight on such short notice, too, the 33-year-old is clearly confident in his power, firmly believing that one punch could quite easily shift the momentum of their dustup in his favour.
That said, Bakole cannot afford to empty his tank early doors, with his heavy frame needing every opportunity it can get to generate the thudding power it has been expertly crafted to deliver.
Front foot pressure
Parker, as previously mentioned, is likely to utilise his lateral movement, keeping himself off the ropes to avoid being trapped in a state of helplessness.
And so, to restrict his opponent’s elusiveness, Bakole must pile on the pressure by cutting off the ring with his feet.
The big man may not be known for his sharp footwork, but still, the sheer presence of his towering build should be enough to limit the space in the ring.
Without having to maintain a high punch output, either, Bakole just needs to keep shifting his feet into range before finding an opening to land his bombs.
